Welcome to Intentional Private Practice! I am so excited that you are here. This blog is a little sneak-peek into the philosophy behind my coaching and clinical consultation business.
Intentional Private Practice evolved organically from my clinical psychology practice (which you can read all about, here, if you’re interested). After providing therapeutic and assessment services in a variety of settings–inpatient, outpatient, residential, school, and community based settings–I made the leap into private practice about ten years ago, and co-founded a group practice about four years ago. I’ve learned lots–GOBS–along the way, and recognized that while graduate programs may prepare us to be great clinicians, they don’t always give us the background in business that we need to run an emotionally and financially sustainable business. According to the small business administration, about 50% of small businesses close within five years of opening–that’s about half of small business owners’ dreams dashed on the pavement, and that potentially includes yours and mine, friends.
Working in private practice, I found others increasingly turning to me for advice on starting or managing their practices. As I helped my friends and colleagues, I started to notice some trends. As a profession, we don’t really understand marketing, and honestly, it scares us. We lump it in with schmarmy sales techniques and have a disdain for the
whole idea of actively generating a caseload. We also stink at money issues. We struggle to manage budgetary issues, have some wonky ideas about the value of our work based on a narrative dictated by insurance companies that we’ve swallowed whole, and we stumble through boundary issues around money with our clients. Finally, we get busy and put our heart and soul into our clinical work, neglecting the business building aspects that are crucial for a thriving practice.
I have grown my clinical work to a place that is right for me. This didn’t happen easily, and it was not without heartache and mistakes along the way. While I figured out what’s best for me, my solutions are not your solutions. My ideal practice is not your ideal practice. For your practice to work for you, reflect your passions, and translate into a sustainable, soul-feeding, and lucrative business, you need to build YOUR ideal practice. You’re the only one who can do that, but I can support you along the way.
I believe to the depths of my being that the work we do is bigger. This is not a one size fits all industry, where you can apply a decision tree, read a brochure, pump out a product, and cash a check. You are here because the work we do is engraved upon our souls. We are the helpers, the healers,
the listeners, the come-alongside-ers. We hold the stories, provide containment and boundaries, and ultimately, shine the light. There’s no business manual for how to do this work, but if we tap into our values and really listen to the quiet voice of our soul, we find our answers are already there. If you listen, what do you hear? Lost touch with that quiet voice? I help providers find it and tune in.
Thinking of launching a private practice? Stalled out and struggling to build and grow your practice? Or have you lost your practice mo-jo, no longer clear on why you’re doing what you’re doing? I love supporting my coaching and consultation clients in understanding their unique practice-oriented values and translating these into a business model that fills their practices with the type of work that is just right for them. Together, we translate intangible values into behavioral intentions and come up with an action plan. You got this, friend.
Ready to get started? Click below to download my MH Providers Ultimate Guide to Defining Your Niche, join my facebook community, or contact me to explore a free initial consultation. I can’t wait to see where your private practice journey takes you!
